Hypodermic syringe



Oct. 11, 1938. A. E. SMITH HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Original Filed April 3, 1955 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Application April 3, 1935.

Renewed Februar! Sclaims- 'lhis invention relates to improvements in hypodermic syringes.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved ampule carrying syringe where- 5 in the ampule is provided with a novel closure member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a syringe including an ampule wherein a medicinal preparation is held in novel closure in n the ampule.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ampule closure made of elastic material and having a chamber therein in which a medicinal preparation is placed and wherein the medicinal l5 preparation is normally free from the huid in the container but may be ejected into the uid by pressure on the closure.

A further a novel ampule closure having a medicinal prepn aration therein and wherein the closure includes a resilient and elastic 'skirt which embraces the outer surface of the end of the ampule.

Further objects and the advantages oi. the invention will be apparent from the following de- :5 scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a central sectional view of a syringe with my improved ampule therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central sectional view I0 through the ampule;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section showing the medicinal preparation being discharged;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a slight modication of my invention;

$3 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central sectional view showing the syringe with my improved ampule therein:

VFig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a further modification of my invention; 40 Fig. '1 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the medicinal preparation being discharged; and,

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-I of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a syringe indicated generally at I0. As shown, this syringe includes a barrel II having a front member I2 therein. 'Ihe front'member is prov1ded with a conical recess I3 and with a needle o Il which has a sharpened end I5. The barrel is also provided with an end closure member Ii which includes a piston I1 which can be operated by moving the handle member Il.

The ampule is indicated at I9 and the rear end of the ampule is shown as engaged by an end object of the invention is to provide Serial No. 14,498

(Cl. 12s-218) member I9' which may be resiliently and telescopically mounted on the closure member I5.

The ampule is made of a suitable grade oi' glass and is cylindrical throughout the majority of its length, the iront end being of reduced diameter as indicated at 2l. Upon this reduced end I arrange a resilient rubber cap closure indicated generally at 2 I. This cap includes an outer skirt. 22 having a bead 23 on the inner wall thereof which iits a groove 24 in the outer wall of the ampule.

The closure 2I is also provided with an internal skirt 25 which tapers from an inner feather edge 26 to a portion of increased thickness where it joins the outer skirt in an end portion 21. The two skirts on the closure are resilient and are preferably arranged so that the inner skirt is resiliently urged outward against the inner wall of the ampule while the outer skirt embraces the outer wall of the ampule.

The inner skirt forms a chamber 28 and in the wall of this chamber I arrange a peripheral groove 29 which in the normal position of the container is shown in Fig. 2 as parallel to the end of the closure. The end portion 29 includes an outwardly directed protuberance III.

Arranged in the groove 29 I show a disk 3l which is spaced from the end wall to provide a pocket 32. The disk 3l is preferably made of Celluloid or other inert material and in the pocket 32 I arrange a medicinal preparation 33 which may be a powder or may be in the nature of an anesthetic tablet which when expelled into the liquid contents 34 of the ampule forms a solution for use in local anaesthesia. It will be understood however that my invention is not limited to this use alone. The rear end of the ampule is provided with a movable piston or closure 35.

In use, the operator takes an ampule as shown in Fig. 2 and presses the thumb or linger upon the protuberance 30 as shown in Fig. 3.. rlhis causes the diameter oi the groove 29 to be enlarged so that the disk 3| falls from the groove or in certain cases this action may cause the tablet 33 to force the disk from its groove. In either case the material or tablet 33 is released and drops into the vehicle 3l.

The ampule may then be placed in the syringe as shown in Fig. 1 with the protuberance 30 above the recess I3 and with the pointed end I5 of the needle engaging the protuberance. The closure member I6 is then secured in place and tightened so that the ampule is forced along the syringe barrel and the pointed end I5 of the needle pierces the protuberance 30 so that communication is aiorded between the needle and the interior of the ampule.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I show the ampule I9 as provided with a closure indicated generally at 40 which includes an outer skirt 4| and an inner skirt 42. The inner skirt resiliently engages the inner Wall of -the ampule while the outer skirt resiliently engages the outer wall of the ampule. The closure also includes an end portion 43 and a chamber 44 arranged within the skirt 42. This chamber 44 is provided with a pair of spaced grooves 45 and 46 to receive disks 41 and 48, respectively. Between the. disks 41 and 48 I arrange a medicinal preparation shown as in the form of a tablet 49. A hole 50 extends from the end 43 to the chamber 44.

In Fig. the syringe front member 5| is similar to the member 50 but the needle 52 is provided with a blunt end 53 which in use passes through the hole 50 when the ampule is inserted in the barrel of the syringe and engages the disk 48 and when the ampule is forced along the barrel pushes the disk 48, the tablet 49 and the outer disk out of the chamber so that the medicinal preparation 49 is ejected into the liquid contents of the ampule.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I show a further modification of my invention wherein the ampule 66 is provided with a closure 6| which is made of resilient rubber and which as shown includes an outer skirt 62 which resiiiently engages the outer Wall of the ampule 60 and an inner skirt which resiliently engages the inner wall of the ampule. The closure 6| is provided with a chamber 64 in which a medicinal preparation 65 is arranged. To form a closure for the chamber 64 which will preserve the medicinal preparation 65 from the uid of the ampule I provide tongues 66 which are integral with the closure 6|. These tongues meet as at 6l and the resiliency is such that this engagement forms a tight seal.

In manufacture a core may be placed in the chamber 64 and the closure molded as shown in the drawing. After this is done a sharp knife may slit the material to form the tongues 66 and after these slits are formed the core is withdrawn and the medicinal tablet 65 may be inserted. In use, when the closure 6| is pressed as indicated at the arrow, Fig. 7, the tongues 66 are spread out and the tablet 65 is allowed to pass therebetween.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel syringe and ampule which can be economically manufactured and which is highly eilcient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampule comprising a tubular body, a closure on one end of said body, a piston movable in said body, said closure including a pair of spaced flanges, the inner flange including a portion engaging the inner wall of said ampule,

the outer flange engaging the outer wall of said ampule, a groove in said inner ange, a disk tted in said groove and spaced from the end of the closure to form a chamber and a preparation in said chamber.

2. An ampule comprising a cylindrical portion, a closure for said ampule, said closure being made of resilient material and comprising a resilient, cylindrical cap engaging said ampule, said cap having an end portion including an outwardlydirected protuberance of less area than the area of the end of the cap, said cap having an annular groove in the wall thereof, said groove being spaced from said end portion, a disk fitted in said groove to form ,a chamber and a preparation in said chamber, said protuberance being depressible to free the disk.

3. An ampule comprising acylindrical portion, a closure for said ampule, said closure comprising a resilient cap having a pair of spaced peripheral flanges, the outer of said anges tting the outer Wall of said ampule, said inner flange tapering from a feathered edge to a portion of increased thickness, said cap having an end portion including an outwardly directed protuberance, a groove in said inner flange, said groove being spaced from said end portion, a disk fitted in said groove to form a chamber and a preparation in said chamber.

4. An ampule comprising a cylindrical portion having a reduced portion at one end and having a peripheral groove in the reduced portion, a movable piston in said ampule at the end remote from said reduced portion, a closure for said reduced end, said closure comprising a resilient cap having a pair of spaced peripheral flanges, the. outer of said anges having an interior bead fitting said groove and the exterior of said outer flange being of a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the ampule, said cap including an end portion having a chamber therein, and a preparation in said chamber.

5. An ampule comprising a cylindrical portion having a reduced portion at one end and having a peripheral groove in the restricted portion, a closure for said reduced end, said closure comprising a resilient cap having a pair of spaced peripheral flanged-the outer of said anges having an interior b ead fitting said groove and the exterior of said outer iiange being of a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the ampule, said inner flange tapering from an inner feather edge to a portion of increased thickness, a peripheral inwardly directed groove in the inner face of said inner flange, said cap having an end portion including an outwardly projecting protuberance, said groove being spaced from said end portion, a disk fitted in said groove to form a chamber and a preparation in said chamber. A

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

